16th Karmapa

H.H. the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje
(1924-1981), was born in Derge province in eastern Tibet. The 15th Karmapa,
Khakhyab Dorje (1871-1922), left a letter setting forth the circumstances of
his next incarnation. On the basis of this letter the authorities of the
Tsurphu monastery were able to successfully locate the child.

17th Karmapa

H.H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Trinley Thaye Dorje, was born
in Tibet in 1983. He was the first son of the 3rd Mipam Rinpoche, a great
Nyingma Lama, and Dechen Wangmo, the daughter of a noble family descending from
King Gesar of Ling. At the age of one and a half the boy started telling people
that he was the Karmapa.

Shamar Rinpoche

An emanation of Buddha Amithaba, the 14th Kunzig Shamar
Rinpoche, is second to Gyalwa Karmapa in the spiritual hierarchy of
the Karma Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism. The first Shamar Rinpoche, Khedrup
Trakpe Senge (1283-1349), was the principal disciple of the 3rd Karmapa,
Rangjung Dorje.

Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche

Lopon Tsechu Rinpoche, was born in Bhutan in 1918. When he
was 13 years old, he left Bhutan to study and practice under the spiritual
guidance of his uncle Lama Sherab Dorje in Nepal. There he received full
Buddhist training and meditated under severe conditions in the caves of
Milarepa and in the holy places of Guru Rinpoche.

Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche

Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche, a highly respected lama of the
Kagyu lineage, is a "Maniwa', a title given to masters of the Chenrezi practice
who have accomplished at least a billion of "Om Mani Peme Hung" mantras.

Jigme Rinpoche

Jigme Rinpoche, the reincarnation of the Tibetan yogi, was
born into the family of H.H. the 16th Karmapa as the brother of Kunzig Shamar
Rinpoche. He received extensive teachings from the 16th Karmapa who, during his
first visit in the West, left him there as his representative.

Lama Ole Nydahl

Lama Ole Nydahl is one of the few Westerners fully
qualified as a Lama and meditation teacher in the Karma Kagyu Buddhist
tradition. Challenging people's concepts of life and Buddhism in an unorthodox
manner, Lama Ole has been a major driving force in bringing Buddhism to the
West.

Hannah Nydahl

In December 1969 Hannah Nydahl and her husband Ole became
the first Western students of H.H. the 16th Karmapa. For over 30 years, Hannah
has interpreted for the highest Karma Kagyu teachers and translated texts of
Buddhist philosophy.